Device for sequential starting and stopping separate groups of operating means in adjustable time intervals

ABSTRACT

Device for time sequencing the starting and stopping of separate groups of operating elements at adjustable time intervals, upon starting and finishing the operation of textile machines, such as open end spinning machines in which mass piecing is performed by reversing the run of both the withdrawing and the winding elements by means of an electrical control mechanism provided with a plurality of switch elements each of which is operatively associated with a respective group of spinning units and each of which is adjustable to determine the time of operation of its respective group of operating elements for such spinning units. For each of the switch elements there is at least one driven control element the motion of which is derived from one of the common driven elements of the machine via an electromagnetically controlled clutch. The control elements include axially displaceable cams for operating the respective switches. Each control element is selectively disengageable from its driving means to permit its separate time adjustment.

Unite States atent Soulkup et al.

[4 1 May 13, 1975 DEVICE FOR SEQUENTIAL STARTING AND STOPPING SEPARATEGROUPS OF OPERATING MEANS IN ADJUSTABLE TIME INTERVALS [75] Inventors:Jiri Soukup; Julius Varga; Jan

Sterba; Ladislav Bures, all of Usti Nad Orlici, Czechoslovakia [73]Assignee: ELITEX,.Zavody textilniho strojirenstvi generalni reditelstvi,Liberec, Czechoslovakia [22] Filed: Aug. 28, 1973 [21] Appl. No.:392,338

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 30, 1972 Czechoslovakia5952-72 [52] U.S. Cl 57/34 R; 57/58.89; 57/78;

[51] Int. Cl D0lh 1/28; D0lh 1/08; D0lh 15/00 [58] Field of Search 57/34R, 58.89, 1, 5895,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,682,144 6/1954 Hare 57/93X 3,526,244 9/1970 Joy 57/93 X 3,541,774 11/1970 Sterba et a1 57/78Primary Examiner-Donald E. Watkins [57] ABSTRACT Device for timesequencing the starting and stopping of separate groups of operatingelements at adjustable time intervals, upon starting and finishing theoperation of textile machines, such as open end spinning.

machines in which mass piecing is performed by reversing the run of boththe withdrawing and the winding elements by means of an electricalcontrol mechanism provided with a plurality of switch elements each ofwhich is operatively associated with a respective group of spinningunits and each of which is adjustable to determine the time of operationof its respective group of operating elements for such spinning units.For each of the switch elements there is at least one driven controlelement the motion of which is derived from one of the common drivenelements of the machine via an electromagnetically controlled clutch.The control elements include axially displaceable cams for operating therespective switches. Each control element is selectively disengageablefrom its driving means to permit its separate time adjustment.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures TENTH] MY 1 3 F375 SHEET 3 OF 3 DEVICE FORSEQUENTIAL STARTING AND STOPPING SEPARATE GROUPS OF OPERATING MEANS INADJUSTABLE TIME INTERVALS The present invention relates to a device forsequentially starting and stopping separate groups of operating means inadjustable time intervals as for example, in the starting and stoppingthe operation of textile machines, particularly open end spinningmachines, in which mass piecing is performed by reversing the run of thewithdrawing and winding means by an electrical control mechanismprovided with switch elements each of which is operatively associatedwith a respective group of spinning units and each of which isadjustable to determine the time of operation of its respective group ofoperating elements for such spinning units.

In open end spinning machines which comprise a plurality of spinningunits arranged beside one another on one or on both sides of themachine, a re-starting after stoppage is required which disturbs thespinning process to a minimum extent. For that reason, it is necessaryto perform a certain number of predetermined operations in a precisetime sequence, by means of which the spinning process being performed inthe separate spinning units is continuously finished and, upon re--starting the machine, continuously started. The necessary sequence ofthe said operations, particularly their repetition with high operatingspeeds which are also determined by the kind of fibrous materialprocessed and the quality of the final product, i.e., the yarn, requiresan accurate and fast starting and finishing of each operation in thegiven sequence with a minimum time delay. Thus, e.g. upon machinestoppage it is necessary first to interrupt the feeding of fibrousmaterial into the spinning chamber, to process to yarn the rest of thefibrous material still present inside the spinning chamber, andthereafter to stop the yarn withdrawing and winding elements at themoment at which the yarn end leaving the spinning chamber is still underthe influence of vacuum exerted by the spinning chamber during itsoperation, i.e., at the moment at which the yarn end has not yet leftthe opening for withdrawing yarn from the spinning chamber.

Upon re-starting the operation of the machine, it is necessary tore-start the operation of the yarn withdrawing and winding elements, atfirst in a direction opposite to that of normal operation, whereby theyarn end is reintroduced into the spinning chamber, which is already inoperation and into which the feeding of separate fibers is re-started atan adjusted rate of feeding. At the moment at which the yarn end comesinto contact with the separate fibers deposited on the collectingsurface of the spinning chamber, the direction of driving of both thewithdrawing and winding elements must be reversed, the spinning processbeing thereafter continued in the normal sequence.

The time sequencing of the separate steps mentioned above isautomatically performed in devices hitherto known by means of powercontrolled mechanical means which perform said steps at predeterminedtime intervals.

A device is known for controlling this process of socalled mass piecing;this device consists of a combination of time and switching relays whichcooperate with electromagnetic brains and clutches. The disadvantage ofthose elements used for the said process consists in their dependence onthe accuracy of their adjustment;

this however, have certain inherent variations due to temperature andvoltage even in well adjusted relays. The reduced reliability of devicesof that type is also caused by the machine as such, such machine havingdifferent starting characteristics depending upon its temperature aswell as upon its environment and also on its own constructions andparticularly on its condition.

These disadvantages can be mitigated by another known device forcontrolling the mass piecing process, in which a system of switches isused, said switches being adjustably distributed on a disc within thecircular path of a rotating finger or dog driven by the main motor ofthe machine via a clutch. The distances between said switches determinethe time of the reverse running of the withdrawing and winding elements,i.e., the driving cylinders or shafts which are common for the wholemachine. In other words, the timing during which the yarn has beenreturned into the spinning chamber, as well as the time necessary forprocessing the rest of the fibrous material which at that time is stillin the spinning chamber. In the event that the power supply from thepower network is interrupted for whatever reason, a so-called stop relayin said device responds thereto, said relay due to voltage loss,interrupting its connection with the power supply network and thusstarting the course of operations for stopping the machine in the propertime sequence. The operating elements for performing this sequence ofoperations are supplied by the necessary power from an auxiliary sourceof power, which in the described apparatus is formed by capacitors. Inother known devices of that type, said auxiliary power source isconstituted by a rotating electric machine, e.g., an AC-generator or aDC generator, using the run-out of the working machine as such and beingconnected to an electric circuit in which there are further connectedtwo control devices for the direct control of the separate mechanisms ofthe spinning units.

The main disadvantage of the above-mentioned device, in which thecontrol of the mass piecing is performed by adjustable switchescontrolled by a rotating finger or dog driven from the main motor of themachine, is that a certain percentage of accuracy is achieved which,however, cannot overcome the difficulties in mass piecing due to thelimited extent of the adjustability of the device, which is determinedby the arrangement of the switches and the dimension of the disc onwhich said switches are arranged. This limited accuracy of the deviceresults in inaccuracies in inducing impulses for the separate controlmechanisms, such inaccuracies disturbing the continuity of the masspiecing process.

The device according to the present invention has among its objectssubstantially to mitigate the mentioned disadvantages of the deviceshitherto known by making possible a simple and accurate adjustment ofthe time intervals necessary for starting and stopping the separategroups of operating means of the open end spinning machine in a timesequence which is necessary for stopping and restarting of the spinningprocess in this machine.

In the device according to the present invention, each of the switchelements has at least one control element the motion of which is derivedfrom one of the common elements of the machine via a clutch.

One advantage of the device according to the present invention is thatit is possible to eliminate both electrical and mechanical assemblieswhich previously caused failures upon mass piecing; another advantage,of the device according to the present invention is that it makespossible an accurate and easy adjustment, i.e., a programming of alloperations, particularly their sequence in accurate time intervals,whereby an accurate and fast yarn piecing is achieved with theelimination of time losses, the use of said device results in the higherquality of the final product, i.e., the yarn and the simultaneousincrease of the productivity of the spinning machine.

Further advantages and features according to the present invention aredescribed in the following specification and shown in form of anembodiment. in the form of example in the accompanying drawings, ofwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the arrangement of the common parts ofan open end spinning machine together with the device according to thepresent invention:

FIG. 2 is a detailed section of the device according to the presentinvention in side view; and

FIG. 3 is a detailed view in front elevation of the device according tothe present invention.

In FIG. 1 there is shown an open end spinning machine which is providedwith a plurality of spinning units 1 (one shown) arranged in a row onone or. both sides of the machine. The machine is equipped with commondriven elements 2, 3, 4, e.g. in form of cylinders or shafts, of whichelement 2 performs the feeding of fiber 5 into the spinning units 1,element 3 performs the withdrawal of yarn 6 fromthe spinning units 1 andelement 4 performs the winding of said yarn 6 onto bobbin 6. The saiddriven elements 2, 3, 4 are ar ranged along the whole length of themachine and end at side wall 12 of the machine in means of transmittingrotary motion to them from the main driving source of the machine, i.e.,from an electric motor 9 mounted in the lower part of the machine. Forclarity of illustration in FIG. 1 there is shown only the transmissionof rotary motion to driven element 4 by means of a gear 8 connected by adriving belt 8 with electric motor 9 and meshing with a gear 7 fixedlyconnected to the end of driven element 4. Gear 7 also meshes with a gear10 which transmits rotary motion to a control device 11 according to thepresent invention. Device 11 is fastened in a conventional manner toside wall 12 of the machine.

The control device 11 FIGS. 2 and 3 has a circular body 13, in thecenter of which there is mounted an electromagnetic clutch having twoparts 141, 142, formed by clutch wheels, which are provided withconfronting selectively meshing gearteeth 151, 152, respectively. Clutch141, 142 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 16, which passes through thebody of an electro-.

magnet 17, the end of shaft 16 is mounted in a lid or cover 18 connectedto the circular body 13. The part 141 of the electromagnetic clutch isalso the armature of an electromagnet 17 and is axially displaceable onshaft 16, its motion being controlled by means of the electromagnet 17which is controlled by a control mechanism (not shown). A coilcompression spring 19 is mounted upon shaft 16, such spring constantlyurging clutch part 141 into mesh with clutch part 142 in its operativeposition i.e., when clutch 141, 142, is in opera 141, 142 of the clutch,the parts of said clutch have radial ring gears 201 and 202,respectively connected thereto. The radial gear 202 on the second wheel142 of the clutch is in mesh with a transmission gear wheel 21 which isfastened on shaft 22, shaft 22 is rotatably mounted in lid 18, saidtransmission wheel 21 being inside lid 18 and the driving transmissionwheel 10 affixed to shaft 22 being outside lid 18.

The radial gear 201 of the first wheel 141 of the clutch is in mesh witha plurality of transmission gears 23 fastened to shafts 24 rotatablymounted in bearing sleeves 25 on body 13 and evenly angularly spacedabout the axis of shaft 16 on a radius corresponding to the distancebetween the center of the first wheel 141 of the clutch and thetransmission gears 23. On the other end of shafts 24, there are fastenedcontrol elemerits 26, each in the form of a disc with a projection orcam lobe 40 thereon. Equally angularly spaced about device 11 there aremounted switches 271, 27 2, 273, 274 (FIG. 3) for closing the separateelectric circuits of a control mechanism (not shown) for controlling thetime sequence of the separate operations which take place upon thestarting and stopping of the machine. The said switches 271, 272, 273,273 which have operating arms 41, are fastened on an annular part of thefixed body 13, The elements 26, which have the above mentioned cam lobes40 thereon, are provided on their front parts with thumb knob extensions28 for adjusting the position of the cam lobes 40 on control elements26.

The disc surface of each control element 26 is provided with aninspection hole 30 through which there are visible digital symbols on ascale 29 which is arranged on gear 21 rearwardly of therespectivecontrol element 26. Near each inspection hole 30 there is anindex mark 31 on the disc surface of control element 26, saidindex markcooperating with the scale 29 to permit the visual control of theadjustment of the control element 26. As above explained, thetransmission wheel 23 of each control element 26 in operative positionis in engagement with the first wheel 141 of the clutch and is securedin this position by means of a coil compression spring 32 mounted onshaft 24 between the control element 26 and the bearing sleeve 25. Onthat side (left, FIG. 2) of device 11 on which the control elements 26are mounted thereis a transparent housing 33 through lobes in whichthere project extensions 28 for the adjustmentof the control elements26.

The device according to the present invention operates as follows:

Upon operation of the units 1 of the open end spinning machine, thefirst wheel 141 of the clutch is in mesh with gear wheels 23, the gearteeth 151 of said first wheel 141 of the clutch being out of engagementwith the gear teeth 152 of the second wheel 142 of clutch; said .wheel142 of the clutch rotates during the whole time of machine operationsince it is permanently connected to a direct transmission of the driveof either the winding cylinder 4 or the withdrawing cylinder 3.

Upon starting the machine by an appurtenant mechanism for controllingmass piecing, the electric circuit of electromagnet 17 is interrupted,whereupon the gearteeth 151, 152 of the clutch wheels of the clutch arethrust into engagement by spring 19 and drive the control elements 26 ofthe device control 11. Control elements 26 in the adjusted time sequenceselectively close and open the contacts of switches 271 to 274. As wehave seen, switches 271274 control the reverse motion of the withdrawingcylinder 3 and the winding cylinder 4, the feeding of fibrous material 5by cylinder 2, and the change of the original normal direction ofrotation of the winding cylinder 4 and the withdrawing cylinder 3 to thereverse direction in which yarn 6 is withdrawn from spinning unit 1 andis wound on to bobbin 6.

Upon initiation of the process of mass piecing, the direction of drivingboth the winding cylinder 4 and the withdrawing cylinder 3 is reversed,and thus the yarn end 6 is reintroduced into the spinning chamber whereit contacts the fiber deposited in the form of a ribbon on thecollecting surface of said spinning chamber in spinning unit 1. At themoment of contact of yarn end 6 and the fiber ribbon in the spinningchamber of spinning unit 1, the direction of rotation of withdrawingcylinder 3 and winding cylinder 4 is changed back into the originaldirection of rotation, yarn piecing takes place, and the spinningprocess is carried on in the usual manner.

In the event that the machine is stopped by the attendants or uponstoppage of the machine for whatever unforseen reason (e.g. interruptionof power supply from the supply network), electromagnet 17 obtains animpulse from the contact of an auxiliary relay (not shown), by means ofwhich its connection to the appur tenant electric circuit isinterrupted. Thus the electromagnet is then deenergized, and thepressure spring 19 causes the teeth of the wheels of the clutch toengage, whereupon rotary motion is transmitted from the wheel 141 of theclutch to the transmission wheels 23 of control elements 26, the switchoperating cam lobes or projections 40 of which begin to move in acircular path, so that the contacts of switches 271, 272, 273, 274 areclosed by the interaction of the cam lobes 40 and the switch arms 41 ata certain preadjusted positions in determined time intervals and in thedesired time sequence.

When the necessity of readjustment of any time interval or time sequencearises, which is necessary for performing a certain operation uponstarting or ending the operation of the open end spinning machine eitherdepending upon the kind of fibrous material to be processed, therequired yarn number, or any other reasons which determine the securingof the correct course of the spinning process, it is possible eitherduring machine operation or even before starting its operation todisengage the transmission gear wheel 23 of the appurtenant controlelement 26 from the first wheel 141 of the clutch by pressing thumb knob28 inwardly and turning the control element 26 and thus its cam lobe 40in the required direction. By this step the appurtenant time intervalfor any control element 26 for any of switches 271, 272, 273 274 isextended or shortened for the separate operation necessary for startingor finishing the operation of the open end spinning machine. Byreleasing the pressure acting upon thumb knob 26, transmission wheel 23is again in engagement with the first wheel 141 of the clutch, wherebythe adjustment of the appurtenant time interval is completed.

Although the invention is illustrated and described with reference toone preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be expressly understood thatit is in no way limited to the disclosure of such a preferredembodiment, but is capable of numerous modifications within the scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an open end spinning machine having a plurality of groups of openend spinning units, each such group having means for Withdrawing yarnsfrom the spinning units of such group and means for winding the yarnswithdrawn from the spinning units of such groups, and common drivingelements for the yarn withdrawing and winding means of each such group,a common element for driving the yarn withdrawing and yarn winding meansof each group of spinning units, mass piecing being performed byreversing the run of both the yarn withdrawing and the yarn windingelements, the improvement which comprises electrical controlledmechanism provided with a plurality of switch elements, each switchelement being operatively associated with a respective group of spinningunits and each switch element being adjustable to determine the time ofoperation of the yarn withdrawing and the yarn winding means of therespective group of spinning units, at least one driven control elementfor each of the switch elements, means for driving the control elementsfrom one of the common driving elements and a controllable clutchinterposed between said one of the common driving elements and saidcontrol elements.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the clutch is anelectromagnetic clutch, and comprising further switch means associatedwith the spinning machine for controlling the clutch.

3. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the control elementsare axially displaceable cams, of said cams, each being connected in itsoperative position through the clutch to said one of the common drivingelements.

4. The combination according to claim 3, comprising a separate set ofselectively meshing gears serially interposed between the clutch andeach control element, and resilient means constantly urging the controlelements to their axial position in which the gears of said separategear sets are in mesh.

5. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the control elementsare driving by the commmon driven element which drives the yarnwithdrawing means.

1. In an open end spinning machine having a plurality of groups of openend spinning units, each such group having means for withdrawing yarnsfrom the spinning units of such group and means for winding the yarnswithdrawn from the spinning units of such groups, and common drivingelements for the yarn withdrawing and winding means of each such group,a common element for driving the yarn withdrawing and yarn winding meansof each group of spinning units, mass piecing being performed byreversing the run of both the yarn withdrawing and the yarn windingelements, the improvement which comprises electrical controlledmechanism provided with a plurality of switch elements, each switchelement being operatively associated with a respective group of spinningunits and each switcH element being adjustable to determine the time ofoperation of the yarn withdrawing and the yarn winding means of therespective group of spinning units, at least one driven control elementfor each of the switch elements, means for driving the control elementsfrom one of the common driving elements and a controllable clutchinterposed between said one of the common driving elements and saidcontrol elements.
 2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein theclutch is an electromagnetic clutch, and comprising further switch meansassociated with the spinning machine for controlling the clutch.
 3. Thecombination according to claim 1, wherein the control elements areaxially displaceable cams, of said cams, each being connected in itsoperative position through the clutch to said one of the common drivingelements.
 4. The combination according to claim 3, comprising a separateset of selectively meshing gears serially interposed between the clutchand each control element, and resilient means constantly urging thecontrol elements to their axial position in which the gears of saidseparate gear sets are in mesh.
 5. The combination according to claim 1,wherein the control elements are driving by the commmon driven elementwhich drives the yarn withdrawing means.